RailTel Corporation of India

RailTel Corporation of India Ltd.

Native name	रेलटेल कॉर्पोरेशन ऑफ़ इंडिया लिमिटेड
Type	Public sector undertaking (PSU)
Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	September 2000 (2000-09)[1]
Headquarters	143, Institutional Area, Sector-44, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Area served	India
Key people	R.K. Bahuguna (Chairman & MD)
Services	RailTel Services, Carrier Service-Leased Line, NLD for Voice Carriage, Managed Co locations Enterprise Service (MPLS-VPN), Internet
Revenue	₹5.54 billion (US$82 million) (2014–15[2])
Operating income	₹2.98 billion (US$44 million) (2014–15[3])
Profit	₹2.56 billion (US$38 million) (2014–15[4])
Total assets	₹12.36 billion (US$180 million) (2014–15[5])
Owner	Indian Railways
Number of employees	525[6] (2014–15)
Subsidiaries	RailTel Enterprises Limited
Website	www.railtelindia.com

RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. is a Miniratna enterprise of Government of India focusing on providing broadband and VPN services. RailTel was formed in September 2000 with the objective of creating nationwide broadband, telecom and multimedia network, to modernize Train Control Operation and Safety System of Indian Railways. RailTel's network passes through around 5,000 stations across the country, covering all central business districts, towns, cities, mini/major-metros.^[7]

RailTel has created state of the art multimedia telecom network using SDH/DWDM-based transmission systems and high end routers for MPLS-IP network. Indian Railways have seamless right-of-way along 63,000 km of rail tracks passing through 7000 stations across the country. The stations in major cities are located in central business districts. Indian Railways already had established a strong Telecom Network to meet its communication requirements. With the formation of Corporation, Indian Railways' right-of-way and OFC assets have been transferred to RailTel. About 32500 km of OFC has been laid and over 29500 km has been commissioned. Works on another 10620 km are in various stage of completion.

RailTel holds the following licenses using which it is offering various services across India:

National Long Distance:

Class "A" ISP (with Internet Telephony)

IP-II

IP-I

History

The Indian Railways was initially solely dependent on the Department of Telecom (now BSNL) for their control and administrative communication circuits. To increase circuit efficiency, the Railways began building up its own communication systems from early 1970s based on overhead telephone lines, quad cabels and MW. In 1983, the Railway Reforms Committee decided to introduce optical fiber cable (OFC) based communications in IR to provide safety, reliability, availability and serviceability through use of a dedicated network. The decision was also taken to create a network independent of the DoT and replace the existing MW telecom systems (60% of which had achieved end of life) with OFC.

Indian Railways commissioned the first OFC on the Churchgate - Virar line in Mumbai in 1988 for train operation and control purpose, which consisted of 60 km of network across 28 stations. The network was expanded in Central India with the commissioning of 900 km of OFC network in 1991-92 across Durg - Nagpur, Nagpur – Itarsi and Itarsi - Bhusaval sections and in Eastern India with the commissioning of 60 km of OFC network in Tata nagar – Chakradhrapur section.

The second National Telecom Policy in 1999 opened the NLD segment under favorable license in conditions with revenue share to assist mobile network operators to spread their networks across India. In 2000, the Government announced the formation of a telecom corporation to build a nationwide broadband multimedia telecommunication network. RailTel was established in September 2000 as a PSU, wholly owned by the Indian Railways.^[8]

Backbone

RailTel has rolled out a transparent, robust, reliable, high speed OFC Backbone Network covering about 32000 km now and ultimately covering 45,000 km across the country by 2010. Over 3200 cities and towns have been connected on the network.

The backbone networks have been configured in multiple 'self healing' rings consisting of more than large no. of rings and linear sections, which provide for redundancy by automatically redirecting traffic away from failed/ de-graded route for fault-free service.

The long haul network of RailTel is on STM-16 which has already been upgraded to 100 G DWDM which can be further augmented up to 400 Gbit/s.

MPLS-IP Network

The MPLS network has been built using Junos MX960 and MX480 high end routers of Juniper. The network supports services like layer 3 and layer 2 VPN services, broadband internet access, multicast services etc. The MPLS network has POPs at 40 cities across the country and is in the process of being extended to other important cities/towns also. The IP services at more than 3000 POPs in the country will be extended through Ethernet interface available in the SDH networks at these locations which will intern be connected to MPLS-IP backbone network at the 40 cities. The MPLS backbone supports multiple STM-1 capacity. The network is also being upgraded to Giga capacity overlaid on new DWDM network, so as to provide gigabit VPN ports for IP based voice, video and data applications.

NGN Network

RailTel has also built a NGN network which is being used to transit Inter circle Voice call of various mobile and basic operators. The network has been rolled out in 18 cities and will be increased to more cities in the future. These cities are Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, Coimbatore, Secunderabad, Madurai, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Lucknow, New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Patna On the strength of this network RailTel is offering not only Class 4 services but can further enhance its service portfolio by offering various value added services (VAS) like enterprise VoIP, etc.

Internet Backbone

RailTel is providing nationwide Internet services on its state of the art MPLS backbone. RailTel sources STM-1 level Internet bandwidth at three different locations, i.e., New Delhi, Mumbai & Chennai using three different service providers. The capacity will be augmented to multiple STM-1s/ STM4s at each location.

Wi-Fi & WiMax

RailTel is set to unwire rural areas with High Speed Broadband connectivity using the future proof WiMax technology. On the strength of this network, RailTel plans to offer Broadband Internet, VoIP and other Value Added Services including E-Governance applications at your finger tip instantly. RailTel has been allotted spectrum in 2.7 GHz band by DoT(department of telecommunication) in this regard. For this project RailTel has entered into an MoU with private organizations under PPP (Public Private Partnership) initiative. In addition RailTel has started making various Railway stations Wi-Fi/ WiMAX enabled thereby enabling passengers to connect to Internet using their laptops, handhelds and other Wi-Fi devices in railway stations.

Free WiFi at stations

RailTel, in collaboration with Google, provides free WiFi access at select railways stations across India. Google chose railways stations as the location to provide free WiFi because stations have access to reliable power supply, fiber provided by RailTel, and the passengers at a station come from all demographics of India.^[9]

The free WiFi service was launched at Mumbai Central railway station in January 2016.^[10] In April 2016, the service was expanded to 9 more railway stations.^[11] In June 2016, Google announced that free Wi-Fi was available across 19 stations in India and was being used by over 1.5 million people.^[12] Google and RailTel plan to provide free WiFi at 100 railway stations across the country by the end of 2016.

In September 2016, Google announced a public WiFi initiative called Google Station. Google plans to expand free WiFi coverage under the initiative to locations such as cafes and malls across India, and later expand worldwide.^[13]

Railwire

With the formation of extensive and robust Pan India Fiber network RailTel is in a position to offer various bandwidth intensive application to its customers. One such initiative is RailWire, a joint venture with MSOs to provide Voice, Video and Multimedia access on a single wire at home/office.^[14] Customers in urban and even rural areas can now experience the power of Triple play services. Digital cable channels can be broadcast to the end users on the strength of this network along with broadband Internet, VoIP and other services simultaneously. For more details please log on to www.railwire.co.in.

Cyber Cafes

RailTel plans to open Cyber Cafes on various railway stations across the country. In the first phase 83 cities have been identified for cafes. Out of which 24 cafes is already operational. The remaining cafes are already under implementation and are expected to be operational in a year time. The Cyber Cafes are fully air-conditioned. The services offered at cafes: Internet browsing, Internet telephony, Scanning of documents, Video conferencing, Audio video chatting, printing of documents and CD writing etc.

Bandwidth services(From 64 kbit/s to 10Gbit/s)

RailTel has a vast OFC network capable of providing bandwidth services at a large number of towns and cities across the country. RailTel is uniquely positioned to provide these services with following features:

• Bandwidth at various granularities
• Secure and protected OFC path
• 24 Strand single mode fibre armoured OFC
• Network engineered for SDH, and DWDM
• Edge & access layer by STM1/4 /16
• Network enabled for IP, ATM, frame relay, Gigabit Ethernet and seamless connectivity
• Extensive reach although STM-1/ 16 dropping at every small/ remote location
• Centralized and regional NMSs.

Internet services

RailTel is also offering internet services as an ISP (Internet Service Provider). It has an ISP category-A licence to provide these services. This service is available all along the OFC network of Railtel.

Features

RailTel is offering Internet Services all along its network. Corporates as well as individual or groups can avail of it.

The network supports voice over internet protocol (VOIP) or internet telephony.

An unrivaled network infrastructure with multiple Internet backbone providers to keep your data flowing and your access to the Internet protected, 24/7.

Rock-solid, always reliable based on state-of-the-art systems.

The Internet connectivity and speed provided by RailTel supports all kinds of usage including VOIP and Video Chat

The Internet connectivity and speed provided by RailTel supports all kinds of usage including VOIP and Video Chat

RailTel plans to open about 250 Cyber Cafes on Railway Stations across the country . In First phase 83 cities have been identified for cafes. Out of which 7 cafes is already operational ( New Delhi, Hyderabad, Banglore, Gorakhpur, Asansol, Jhansi and Pune ) .The remaining cafes are already under implementation and are expected to be operational in a year time. The Cyber Cafes are fully Air-conditioned . The services offered at Cafes :- Internet browsing, Internet telephony, Scanning of documents, Video conferencing, Audio video chatting, printing of documents and CD writing etc.

Co-location facilities

Towers space is available for installing antennae at more than 1000 locations. There are various such locations which are being used by over a dozen satisfied customers including basic service operators, cell operators, Entertainment and Media organizations. Towers locations are spread throughout the country. Space available for installing electronic equipment. Electricity and Co-Location facilities available in secure railway premises in nationwide Railway infrastructure. RailTel is also tying up with tower Infrastructure companies to provide managed services and establishing new Towers.

VPN Services

RailTel is capable of providing virtual private networks for corporates. The RailTel infrastructure for VPN is based on MPLS (Multi protocol Label Switching) technology ensuring top class IP VPN services. MPLS system allows full control over parameters that are critical to offering secure and efficient VPN service. Thus the industrial houses can have a very secure fiber connectivity and RailTel can meet all their voice and data VPN requirements.

NLD

RailTel has launched NLD business by signing IUC (Interconnect) Agreement with major operators across India. The NLD infrastructure has been built, is based on Next Generation Network (NGN) Technology. This will enable operators to offer cheaper STD (National Long Distance) services to subscribers using RailTel's NLD Network.

Network has been rolled out in 18 cities and will be increased to more cities in the future. The proposed cities are Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, Coimbatore, Secunderabad, Madurai, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Lucknow, New Delhi, Raipur, Bilaspur, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Patna On the strength of this network RailTel will be able to offer not only Class 4 services but can further enhance its service portfolio by offering various value added services (VAS) like enterprise VoIP, etc.

Awards

Rail Tel has bagged the 12th National Awards for Excellence in Cost management 2014^[15]

References

External links

• http://www.railtelindia.com/
• http://www.railwire.co.in/
• Google Station

Indian Railways
Authority	Ministry of Railways Railway Board
Zones	Central Railway East Central Railway East Coast Railway Eastern Railway North Central Railway North Eastern Railway North Western Railway Northeast Frontier Railway Northern Railway South Central Railway South East Central Railway South Eastern Railway South Western Railway Southern Railway West Central Railway Western Railway Konkan Railway
Production units	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Chittaranjan Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi Diesel-Loco Modernisation Works, Patiala Integral Coach Factory, Chennai Rail Coach Factory, Raebareli Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala Rail Wheel Factory, Bengaluru Rail Wheel Plant, Bela
Railway depots	Diesel Erode Golden Rock Pune Samastipur Electric Erode MEMU Kollam
Subsidiaries	BWE BSC Braithwaite & Co. CCI Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India High Speed Rail Corporation of India IRFC IRCTC Ircon International KRC MRVC RVNL RailTel RITES
Autonomous organisations	CORE COFMOW RDSO CRIS RRCB RLDA
Training institutes	Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering Indian Railway Institute of Electrical Engineering Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications Indian Railway Institute of Transportation Management RPF Academy Railway Staff College
Network	Chennai Suburban Railway Chennai MRTS Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Delhi Suburban Railway Hyderabad MMTS Kashmir Railway Kalka–Shimla Railway Kolkata Suburban Railway Kolkata Metro Mumbai Suburban Railway Nilgiri Mountain Railway Golden I.T. Corridor Howrah–Delhi main line Grand Chord Sahibganj Loop Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line Howrah–Chennai main line New Delhi–Chennai main line Mumbai–Chennai line Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line Ahmedabad–Mumbai Main Line Mathura–Vadodara Section
Services	Antyodaya and Jan Sadharan Express trains AC Express Express/Mail trains Fast Passenger Double Decker Express Duronto Garib Rath Express Gatimaan Express Humsafar Express Intercity Express Jan Shatabdi Express Kavi Guru Express Premium train (Suvidha Express) Rajdhani Express Rajya Rani Express Shatabdi Express Sampark Kranti Express Superfast Express/Mail trains Tejas Express Uday Express Vivek Express Yuva Express
Special trains	Lifeline Express Red Ribbon Express Sanskriti Express Science Express
Tourist trains	Deccan Odyssey Fairy Queen Maharajas' Express Palace on Wheels Royal Orient Train Royal Rajasthan on Wheels Golden Chariot Mahaparinirvan Express
Related articles	Last vehicle board Railway Budget Railway Schools Future of the Indian Railways Indian Railways Fan Club
Employees	All India Station Masters' Association (AISMA) All India Railway Employees' Confederation (AIREC)
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